While the atonement is a central component of Christianity, there is
little agreement in the tradition about how it should be understood.
This book develops and defends a novel relational theory of atonement
inspired by African relational ethics. This book brings important
themes from African ethics into conversation with the contemporary
philosophical literature on the atonement. The author employs an
African relational ethic that says an act is right inasmuch as it is
friendly where friendliness is understood as identifying with others
and expressing solidarity with them. This relational ethic sheds new
light on the problem of sin, by emphasising the relational disharmony
it produces between God and humans. When applied to the Atonement, the
passion and death of Christ can be understood as an ultimate act of
friendliness in reconciling humanity to God. The author also explores
questions about the nature of justice, forgiveness, and
reconciliation. He shows how constructive punishment ought to be
included in genuine forms of reconciliation and as such how punishment
can be part of his Relational Theory of the Atonement. The last part
of the book develops alternative theories of the atonement based on
two important African normative theories located in personhood and in
life force. Overall, the book makes the case that the Relational
Theory of the Atonement should be considered as a serious competitor
to longer-established Western theories. A Relational Theory of the
Atonement will appeal to scholars and advanced students interested in
philosophy of religion, philosophical theology, African philosophy,
and comparative philosophy.
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African Contributions to Western Philosophical Theology
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781000915037
Publisert
2023
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Taylor & Francis
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter